Box-covering machine.



l V/T/vssszs No. 851,052. PATENTED APR. 23, 190?.

- J. ALGER.

BOX COVERING MACHINE. Arruqnrpn rILnn my 10. '1904.

2 SHEETS-SEES! -1.

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No. 851,052. BATENTED APR. 2a, 1907.

' J. ALGER. BOX oovsame MACHINE.

Agrmqulon rum) nu 10(1904. I

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l/Vwwssss I/NVEN TUB 3, W JOSEPH A1. 055* @KWMJ A TTK UNITED sTArns' PATENT ()FEIQE.

I AND ARTHUR H. ALGER, JOINTLY, OF

BROGKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOX-=COVERING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April as, 1907.

Application filed Mayl0,l904. Serial No. 207,234.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH ALGER, a citizen of'the United States, residing at Brockinonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Box-Covering Machines, of which the following is a specification.

I This invention relates to machines for covering paper boxes, class of machines which folds and astes about the box a paper blank attached to its bottom. A

It has been difficult heretofore with any of the machines in use to apply the paper neatly and evenly, and in feeding these boxes to the machine it has been difficult to secure accuracy of location of the box relative to the folding members, whichis necessary to prevent irregularity and defects in the folding of the paper about the box. In the manufac ture, also, of the type of box. known as the package end it is desirable to have .the coverin -paper folded with a round turn in stead this being to give the padded effect of a pack age, which, as the name indicates, it is sought to have the box resemble. The above features are gained by the use of certain holding and folding members and the cooperation of certain parts, which will be more fully de scribed later.

In the drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout,'Figure l is a general View of my maclnne. Fig. 2 is a diagraimnatical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 4, with the folder open. Fig. 3 is a similar view with thefolder closed. Fig.

4 1s a plan view showing the top of the ma chine, and Fig. 5 is a detail of a modification of the end-turner.

A is a box-support having hinged thereto side-folders B and end-folders B, which carry edge-turners C.

D D are slides which are recipr'ocated on a rod E by treadles F F, respectively; G are links connecting these heads'with" the sidefolders, so that the latter are; swung up against the box as the slides are raised.

H H are links normally held in a bent" position when the side-folders are open by and particularly to that being sharply creased at the edge,

y the spring it and which connect the linkG with the edge-turners C.

3 h is a projection'carricd by the slides D 1). ton, in the county of Plymouth and Comand adapted to engage the cross-bar 7L2 of the link H as the slide rises and the link G swings j in, so that as this motion. continues the bent 5 links are straightened and act as toggles to" i tip the edge-turners C over the edge of the box.

turners for bringing the covering paper about the end of the box and to produce the necessary fold in the package end. These i turners are pivoted at *i, so as to rotate, and thus avoid any danger of drawing or pucker- 5 ing the paper as it is swung into place.

In the form shown in Fig. 1. the turners are i segmental and are controlled by spring-links l i, which tend to move the turnci's slightly on 1 their pivots relative to the side-turners L as they are swung up and also to tip'the turners I against the ends of the box as the link G is swung up. This movement is [due to ,the fact that the spring-links diverge from, the cross-bar g and are subjected to a wedging action as the link G swings up to close the folder. I

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 these i endturners are shown as simple disks mounted on the side-folders, so as to be free to rotate] In this case no wedging action is I obtained, and the only motion of the turner itself is a slight revolution if there is any tendency on the part of the paper to pucker i or stick i Mounted upon the block A is a holder K, which consists of a body portion and side portions, but being open at each end. The sides of the holder K is slightly smaller than the sides of the box to be operaiI-ed upon, so that when the side-folder is swung up the edge-turner and endfolder will have room to clear the same. This holder is preferably made of sheet metal and may be easil made of any size desired to suit any box to be covere" and is removably secured to the block A b Sciews, L is a belt, of leather or canvas, ,also'attached to the block A and located between it and the holder M are bent arms carried by the end-folders, which hold the belt preferably L yieldingly extended by I I are end-turners mounted upon the sidefirmly in place, I in the meantime has foldc the springs m. and slightly in advance of the end-folder. The belt is of just sufficient height to allow the edge-turner C on the end-- folder to pass over it in turning the edge of the covering-sheet over the edge of the box.

lhe slides'D I) are held lowered, and the side-folders are therefore held normally open by the weight of said slides which are raised to operate the parts by the treadle's F F,

The operation of the machine is as follows: A box having applied to its bottom a covering-sheet is set into the. holder, by which act the covering-paper for the side of the box is turned up, but extends above the edge of the holder and the-box. By depressing the ireadle F the side-folder is then swung into place against the outside of the holder, the edge-turner ra-ssin over said holder and box to turn the edge of the covering-sheet in on the inner surface of the box and press it as shown in Fi 3. The disk the coveringsheet about the corner of the box and made the necessary crease for the fold to be made by the end-folder. The treadle F. is now (is-- pressed and the end-folders swung up into place. As these folders rise the belt L, traveling in advance thereof, first meets the end section of the covoringiaper and brings it up to the box with a loose turn, due to its yielding nature. After the belt has thus located the end portion oft-he covering-paper against the box the end-folder is brought up closely against the box, and the edge-turner carried thereby binds the paper over the edge and presses it in place, as heretoforedcscribedin connection with Fig. 3. In the folding of the paper against the box the belt draws up the paper smoothly and keeps it smoothly extended in spite of the swinging action of the sidefolders, which, if acting directly on the paper, would have a tendency to crumple it and leave it wrinkled. Although shown as applied to a machine for covering package-end boxes, this fiexiblebelt may be applied to any type and is .of the greatest importance in all machines using swinging side-folders. Thc'head D then falls by its own weight upon the release of'the treadleF, and the folder opens to relcase'the box; The connection of the side and end folders are the same, as are also the edge-tnrners, mounted upon these members; but the side-folders carry the end-turners I and are not connected with the belt, while the cnd-turners B have no folders I, but carry the ends of the belt L.

The belt L be of suitable construction and indie. ial or may be made in the form of a yielding seetidn on the folder; but I i prefer the belt form, as it is cheaper to make, more easily replaced, and adapted to various sizes and types of work. The holderalso may be oi any desired form and may be made with more fingers instead of a solid; side, as shown. Various other modifications l and substitutions of parts may also be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Wha'u I therefore claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for covering paper boxes, folding means, means for drawing the covering-paper about the box in advance of said folding means, said means being flexible throu hout. I

2. K machine having swinging means for drawin advance of saidr'fo ding means.

In a machine for covering paper boxes, the combination of swinging fold ng mem: bers, and flexible means mounted'in advance of'tlie same to locatethe covering-paper in place. I

4., In a-machine for cdvering pa or boxes, the combination of swinging fol ing emmfor covering paper boxes,

bore, a flexible web carried by said members and printed in advance of the same to locate the c'ov eringesheet in place.

5; .Ina machine for covering paper boxes,

side-folding members and end-folding members, said end-folding members carrying in paperin place.

- 6. In a machine for covering paper boxes,

' the combination of means for supporting a box and covering-paper, the paper about the box,

a folder for folding members on said folders to turn the coveringpaper on the inside of the box.

n 8. In a machine for covering paper boxes, I a support for-the bottom of the box, sidefolding members hinged thereto, a verticallymovable frame, links connecting said frame to said side-folders, edge-turners' pivoted to said sidefolders, double links connecting said edge-turners and said first menti'oned links and'a cam for straightening said double links to tip the edge-turners.

9. In. a machine for covering paper boxes, the -combination of a holder, folding members hinged to swing relatively thereto and llcx'ible means for drawing up the covering-paper in advance of said folding members.

10. In a machine for covering-p aper boxes,

a holder having bottom and side portions but open at each end, folders mounted to swing relatively thereto, edge-turning members on said folders to turn'tho covering-paper on the inside of the box, and flexible means for drawing up the eovering paper in advance of said folding members. 7

11. In a machine for covering paper boxes,

folding means and flexible up the paper inplace in.

advance thereof a flexible web to locate the a flexible sheet for folding members hinged thereto, a verticallythereof. movable frame, links connecting said frame In testimony whereof I affix my signature am sail sfidiecifoldegs, edfitgurners pivoted t3 in presence of twow'itnesses; 5 sai si eo ers, ent connecting sai edge-turners and said first-mentioned links, JO-SEP H ALGER' a stud on the frame for straightening said Witnesses: bent links to tip the edge-turners, and fiexi- WILLIAM G. ROWE, blev means to locate the covering-paper car- LOYED E. CHAMBEBLAIN.

mu I ort for the bottom of the'boxsideried by the foldin members in advance 10 PP f, i g 

